Scrum-halves set to leave Bath Rugby

BATH Rugby are expected to part company with two of their current crop of scrum-halves according to the latest reports, writes John Evely.

One-cap England international Joe Simpson, inset, who is on loan from Gloucester Rugby, is not expected to stay at Bath beyond his current contract which expires in June and according to the Daily Telegraph, 23-year-old Ollie Fox will join RFU Championship winners Ealing Trailfinders next season.

Due to Ealing’s Vallis Way home ground not meeting the league’s minimum standards criteria there will be no side promoted from the Championship next season but that is not stopping ambitious Trailfinders from recruiting top talent including former England U20s number nine Fox.

Fox has played 14 Premiership games for Bath since joining from Yorkshire Carnegie, 11 of which came during the 2021/22 season after first choice scrum half Ben Spencer suffered an injury on the opening day of the season.

Simpson has a year left on his contract with the Cherry and Whites but is in talks about leaving Kingsholm this summer and has been linked with a move to Newcastle Falcons with head coach Dave Walder taking charge of rugby matters following confirmation Dean Richards will step down as director of rugby at the end of the season. Falcons are looking to replace South African half-back Louis Schreuder who is joining Bath this summer.

In addition to England international Spencer, who is arguably the most pivotal player at Bath and has been a constant highquality performer despite the club’s torrid season, Max Green who is currently on loan to Bristol Bears - is the other senior scrumhalf on the books.

Coming through the academy, England U20s scrum-half Tom Carr-Smith is also highly thought of at Farleigh House and looks in line for more game time in the next year. With every Premiership club feeling the pinch due to the salary cap reduction to £5m beginning to bite, squads around the league are getting smaller and this could be another example the headcount being reduced and the coaches looking to their academy.

At fly-half Bath have seen Danny Cipriani and Tian Schoeman leave, with just one addition to cover the position after signing Northampton Saints’ versatile Piers Francis.